Lies to police led to arrest

Sunday

Sep 25, 2011 at 12:01 AMOct 20, 2011 at 1:45 PM

STOCKTON - Jason Ross Gilley, identified by police last month as a person of interest in the case of missing woman Dalene Carlson, initially said he didn't see her the night she disappeared and later admitted he lied, according to search warrants obtained Friday.

Jennie Rodriguez-Moore

STOCKTON - Jason Ross Gilley, identified by police last month as a person of interest in the case of missing woman Dalene Carlson, initially said he didn't see her the night she disappeared and later admitted he lied, according to search warrants obtained Friday.

The court documents prepared by Stockton police Detective Larry Lane reveal that Gilley's grandmother also admitted lying to police when she told them she hadn't seen Carlson since the previous week.

"She said Jason had asked her to lie, because he knew she was missing, and he didn't want her to tell us, because he was the last one to see her," Lane reported.

Carlson, 23, had recently moved to Stockton from Idaho to explore her independence. She was last seen by friends Aug. 7 at Finnegan's Pub and Grill on Pacific Avenue.

Gilley, 25, initially told police he had parted ways with Carlson at Finnegan's, but he later recanted by stating the two had consensual sex before he dropped her off 40 minutes south of Stockton that day.

The inconsistencies led to his arrest last month. But the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office found there wasn't enough evidence - nor was there a body - to charge Gilley.

According to the court documents, Gilley originally said he had been at the bar with Carlson the day she vanished but left before she did.

Surveillance cameras captured both Carlson and Gilley together at various times at Finnegan's. The two are seen again minutes later on surveillance footage at Food 4 Less on Hammer Lane. Gilley's arm was around her shoulders and neck. They approached the checkstand at 1:31 a.m. and left the store shortly after that.

Gilley was wearing a baseball cap with a green logo, possibly with the word "FOX."

Amid mounting evidence that Gilley was withholding information, investigators searched Gilley's home on Aug. 11. He shares a home with his mother, Debbie Cook; his grandmother, Virginia Wright; and James Cosens, who also is a person of interest in the case. Wright told police that she hadn't seen Carlson since the previous Thursday.

Three days after the search - on Aug. 14 - officers spotted Gilley walking near his house and took him in for questioning a second time.

That's when Gilley admitted leaving Finnegan's with Carlson. In his second account, he told investigators the two went to Food 4 Less for alcohol, the report said. He and Carlson, according to the report, then went to his house, where they had consensual sex. Gilley said Carlson then began to walk home, seemingly upset. Gilley said he followed her in his grandmother's car to give her a ride.

Gilley said once she got in, they began to argue. He said he got on the Crosstown Freeway and then drove southbound on Highway 99 for about 40 minutes. Gilley claims he let Carlson out of the car at an unfamiliar location.

He was arrested after the interview.

Police seized a hat of Gilley's that matched the one he was seen wearing on surveillance video and cellphone images, among other items.

In another search of his house, detectives spoke to his grandmother again. This time, Wright acknowledged seeing Carlson between about 9 or 9:30 a.m. Aug. 7, contradicting her previous statement. Wright said she had seen Carlson leave with Gilley in her car.

Neither Gilley nor Wright could be reached for comment Saturday.

Gilley's former girlfriend and the mother of his child told police she also had seen Carlson and Gilley together that morning during a child-custody exchange. She told police both seemed as though they had been partying. Carlson seemed to be wearing day-old makeup.

Those are the last known encounters with the missing woman.

Stockton police spokesman Officer Pete Smith said the investigation is still ongoing, and all the initial suspects and persons of interest remain just that.

"We know he was the last person to have been with Dalene, and so obviously, the person who was last seen with her would have to be a person of interest until we can bring this case to a close," Smith said.

It may be that Gilley had reasons to distort the truth other than guilt, Smith said, including fear of becoming a suspect.

"But any time you are dishonest with an investigator, that's something that is going to have to be explained and accounted for," Smith said. "At this point, we need more evidence to charge Mr. Gilley or any other person responsible."

Two other acquaintances of Carlson's have been named as persons of interest by police - Cosens and Jacob Evangelisti.

Smith said investigators are waiting on forensic test results of a flip-flop found that might match the one Carlson was wearing the night she disappeared.

Family and friends have raised about $1,000 to add to Crime Stoppers' $1,000 reward for information regarding Carlson's disappearance.

She is 5 feet, 1 inch tall and about 120 pounds. Police said Carlson was not carrying money or identification. She was last seen wearing a black-and-white striped, V-neck tank top; skinny blue jeans with ragged holes in the thigh; flip-flops; and her toenails were painted red.

Anyone who has seen Carlson or knows anything about where she might be is asked to call police at (209) 937-8323.